Education experts in Bradford have welcomed Government proposals to teach "economically useful" languages such as Urdu and Mandarin Chinese alongside French and German.

Secondary schools in England are set to be given greater freedom to teach a wider choice of languages as part of plans to update the National Curriculum.

Ministers have asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to review what pupils aged 11 to 14 should study.

Education Secretary Alan Johnson is now likely to accept their recommendations that major world languages such as Urdu and Mandarin be offered alongside traditional favourites such as French, German and Spanish, the Department for Education and Skills said.

However, language experts throughout the district claim many Bradford pupils are already developing uncommon language skills.

Margaret Platts, head teacher of Belle Vue Girls School, a specialist language college, said schools in Bradford were ahead of the game.

Belle Vue Girls teaches Urdu, Arabic and Italian alongside more traditional classes in French and Spanish.

"I am delighted the Government is taking an interest in teaching languages in schools again," she said.

"We are very committed to teaching a range of languages here.

"In May, we will be sending a delegation to Shanghai to forge links with schools in China and we will be teaching Madarin Chinese from September. We already provide tuition in Urdu."

Belle Vue Girls has been chosen to lead Key Stage 3 language teaching throughout Bradford and will help co-ordinate future provision.

Mrs Platts added: "Language skills help literacy across the board and increase pupils' prospects in Higher Education and their future careers.

In Bradford, it is not just secondary school pupils who are developing extra language skills. Primary school youngsters are also getting in on the act.

Margaret McMillan Primary School in Scotchman Road, Manningham, is providing extra-curricular classes in Urdu and Arabic.

Class teacher and Urdu tutor Abdul Qadeer said a selection of participating pupils, aged between eight and ten, would soon be ready to sit for a GCSE in either subject.

"The Urdu and Arabic languages have a lot in common with English. And far from detracting from developing English language skills, they enhance it.

"Becoming fluent in Urdu or Arabic also boosts confidence and will help youngsters later on in their careers."

Margaret McMillan Primary is also examining running Mandarin Chinese classes in the near future.

"With India and China set to play an even bigger role on the world stage, these languages are becoming increasingly important," added Mr Qadeer.

Ian Murch, Bradford NUT branch secretary, said: "There are plenty of people who want to learn Urdu throughout the district, and not just those from Asian communities."

However, Phillip Shackleton, Association of Teachers and Lecturers' Bradford branch secretary, sounded a note of caution.

He said: "Many secondary schools in Bradford already teach Urdu up to GCSE level.

"I have every sympathy with the need to develop community cohesion and learn each other's languages.

"But we are also part of the European Union and must not forget about European languages too."